MAY 9, 2014

Mercedes drivers say no to team psychologist

Lewis Hamilton has ruled out making use of Mercedes' new F1 psychologist.

It has emerged that Dr Ceri Evans, who also worked with New Zealand's 'All Blacks' during the rugby team's world cup triumph, was in the Shanghai garage last time out and could return this weekend in Barcelona.

The reports however said Evans had focused on the performance of engineers and mechanics, not the drivers Hamilton and Nico Rosberg.

Ahead of the Spanish grand prix, Briton Hamilton - the winner of the last three grands prix on the trot - was asked whether he too would think about working with a psychologist to improve himself as a driver.

"Never. Never needed one and will never have one," he insisted. "So we'll never speak of it again unless I start going crazy."

Hamilton said Evans being in China had "zero impact" on him.

Also not planning to make use of Mercedes' new psychologist is German Rosberg, who risks ceding his championship lead to Hamilton this weekend if he loses for a fourth straight time to Hamilton.

Rosberg also laughed off suggestions he might start reverting to psychological 'mind games' to destabilise the notoriously emotional Hamilton.

"I am comfortable to keep on doing what I am doing," he said on Thursday.

"What I need is a normal weekend. I have not had one of those lately and then I will be able to turn things around."